The Penrith Panthers NYC team looks to continue their charge towards the top 8 this week when they face the Melbourne Storm on Monday night at Sportingbet Stadium.

The Storm are in a similar situation to the Panthers as they currently sit in 9th on 26 points, just two points behind the Panthers and will be looking to force their way into the top eight, starting this week.

However, they will meet a Penrith team that is full of confidence following wins in their last 4 matches against quality opposition, including last week’s victory when they put in an impressive display against the North Queensland Cowboys, coming out on top 38-16. The Storm, on the other hand, will be aiming to bounce back from their 20-10 loss to the Cronulla Sharks.

The last time these two teams faced each other was in round 2 in Melbourne, where the Melbourne Storm were too good for the Panthers on the night, coming away with a 42-24 victory. However, the Panthers are a much improved team from the first month of football this season and will be looking to prove this on Monday night.

It won’t be an easy task for the Panther boys though, coming up against a Melbourne Storm that boasts a number of talented individuals including a number of representative players. Both Dean Britt and Rhys Kennedy represented NSW this year in the Under 20s State of Origin match and are an integral part of the Storm’s forward pack which also includes Queensland Under 20s Origin front rower Christian Welch.

This will be another good challenge for the Panther’s forward pack that, led by Captain Andy Saunders, has been a key part of the team’s success in recent times. The toughness of this forward pack mixed with the skill and excitement that the outside backs of Penrith provide has been a joy to watch for fans this year and it is hoped that plenty of people again come out early to support the boys in their quest for a top 8 berth.